Speech delivered in Madison, Wisconsin, May 2, 2009, at The Progressive magazine's 100th anniversary:
Howard Zinn interview on Greek TV
For TVXS:
Announcing VOICES [of a People's History] REMIX
Hip Hop Theater Festival
proudly presents
VOICES REMIX: A People's History of the United States
with a cast of local capital area artists and celebrated national Hip-Hop artists, novelists, and activists, including:
Regie Cabico, Staceyann Chin, Michael Ealy, W. Ellington Felton, Lupe Fiasco, Walter Mosley, and, on the turn tables, DJ Earth 1ne, with Dave Zirin narrating the evening.
July 7, 2009
Washington, D.C.
Follow Voices on Twitter and get exclusive backstage photos from the show!
After last year's sold-out show of VOICES REMIX at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, featuring Tim Robbins, Staceyann Chin, Suheir Hammad, Michael Rapaport, and DJs Bobbito and Reborn, Voices and Hip Hop Theater Festival decided to team up again to come to the nation's capital.
This event is FREE and open to the public thanks to the sponsorship of the Hip Hop Theater Festival and the District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
This evening event on Tuesday, July 7, 2009, will take place starting at 6:00 PM at the Terrace Theater at the Kennedy Center for the Performance Arts in Washington, D.C.
VENUE INFORMATION
The Kennedy Center is located on the banks of the Potomac River at 2700 F St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20566, at the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue, NW, and the Rock Creek Parkway.
For detailed directions and information on parking, please visit the Kennedy Center website here.
TICKETING
This event is free and open to the public, with all seats general admission in the Terrace Theater. There is NO registration for tickets (as previously announced on this site) and everyone will be seated on a first come, first served basis. We expect a queue to form very early and doors will open at 5:30 PM.
From Students Against the System (FES by its greek initials):
“Marx in Soho” is being played 4 years now in theaters in Greece with a great success. Once a year we organize the presence of our members to the show, but this year we thought it would be a good idea to organize a performance for all students inside a university (we checked it on the internet and we were glad to know that the in the US the play is being performed in universities and other public spaces).
We contacted the director and Aggelos Antonopoulos (the actor that performs Marx), and the authorities of Philosophy University of Athens. So, the University will organize a performance of the play inside the faculty for free. It will be the first performance in front of a student audience and we are trying to turn it to a very important event for all students in the university.
Howard Zin will be in Greece these days and he will attend the performance and give a short speech before it starts.
Howard Zinn on Democracy Now: “I Wish Obama Would Listen to MLK”
"Legendary historian Howard Zinn joins us to talk about war, torture and the teaching of history. Zinn says Obama had Obama heeded the lessons of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he wouldn’t be escalating US attacks abroad and increasing the size of the US military budget. We also play excerpts of the forthcoming documentary, The People Speak, featuring dramatic readings based on Zinn's A People’s History of the United States and Voices of a People’s History of the United States."
Historian-activist Howard Zinn honors his friend, Alice Walker. They met at Spelman College in Atlanta as instructor and student during the 1960's.
Author-activist Alice Walker visited Emory on April 22-24, 2009 in celebration the public opening of her archives and the accompanying exhibition titled "A Keeping of Records: The Art and Life of Alice Walker".
Special Announcement: The People Speak to air on the History Channel
HISTORY™ and The People Speak organization, VOICES OF A PEOPLE’S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, have entered into a multi-tiered marketing and programming event, it was announced today by Nancy Dubuc, EVP/GM, HISTORY. As part of this broad initiative, the network will premiere in 2009 THE PEOPLE SPEAK, a film which focuses on the concept of democracy, based on the lives and experiences of ordinary Americans who, through their words and actions, changed the course of history. The film will take viewers on a journey from the founding of this country to the civil rights movement and beyond.
THE PEOPLE SPEAK will feature dramatic performances chronicling the history of this country, including charter documents, letters, diaries and more, from such celebrities as Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Viggo Mortensen, David Strathairn, Marisa Tomei, Don Cheadle, Jasmine Guy, Q’orianka Kilcher, Michael Ealy, Kerry Washington, and musical performances from Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder, Allison Moorer and John Legend. These slices of life will be woven together with archival footage and interviews.
HISTORY will also partner with nonprofit organization VOICES OF A PEOPLE’S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES to develop enhanced, co-branded curriculums for a countrywide educational initiative. In addition, HISTORY will support this outreach with national on-air campaigns and live webcasting to further generate awareness.
As well, the network will engage in a wide-ranging, interstitial branding campaign, producing at least 26 shorts surrounding the concept of democracy for viral, VOD and online dissemination.
“This is a partnership that was destined to be. Together we are bringing forth a national conversation about democracy and the unforgettable, everyday stories that made America. It’s the very essence of what we mean when we say History Made Every Day,” says Dubuc. “The innovative style and A-list auspices of all those involved, including the passionate commitment of Matt Damon and Chris Moore, promise to make this a core initiative hopefully for years to come.”
“HISTORY, a leader in the media landscape, is the perfect home for The People Speak and we are thrilled to launch this partnership,” said Chris Moore, CO-Director, The People Speak. “Not only will the film strongly resonate with viewers and with our constituents, but the dedication of the talent to this cause, coupled with the educational and content initiatives, makes this an incredible win.”
Says Matt Damon, “I am a firm believer in this project, proud to be part of it and proud that we are working jointly with History. The message that is so critical to disseminate is that change doesn’t come from the top, but rather from the bottom, and that without everyday citizens pushing to make a difference, there would be no America.”
Four-year-old Waltham, Mass.-based Back Pages Books is the latest bookstore to announce that it is entering the publishing business. Back Pages Publishers released its first title today, Howard Zinn’s The State of the Union, a 50-page call-to-action based on a talk the historian gave at the bookstore after the presidential election. Back Pages founder and owner Alex Green said that he was inspired by the Zinn event to return to the tradition of bookstores publishing books. He took Zinn’s talk and edited it into short, easy-to-read sections.
For Green, publishing offers an extension of Shop Local, and he plans to limit distribution for each book, which Back Pages is retailing for $6.95. The saddle-stitched paperback with a wrap-around cover will only be available at other independent bookstores. To date, City Lights in San Francisco; Food for Thought in Amherst, Mass.; King’s English in Salt Lake City; Politics and Prose in Washington, D.C.; and Prairie Lights in Iowa City, Iowa have ordered the book. Green anticipates adding more bookstore outlets in the coming weeks.
Why Howard Zinn has become one of the most important and influential American historians is perhaps nowhere more evident than in this new book. Few social critics have been as inspiring as the ever-hopeful Zinn and, unlike many historians, Zinn turns historical details toward deeper observations on the universal truths and struggles of humankind.
His remarkable wisdom and insight can be found in his earliest writings through his latest essays, speeches, and plays. Uncommon Sense brings together his most poignant and profound quotations from decades of writing and speaking. The book reveals the philosophical side of Howard Zinn and a consistency of vision over 50 years on topics ranging from government to race, history, law, civil disobedience, and activism.
Preview of The People Speak shown at the Atlanta Film Festival
Video: Atlanta Film Festival Begins
The Atlanta Film Festival opened Thursday night, and Josh Brolin was on hand to premiere his controversial new film.
11Alive, Atlanta, GA http://www.11alive.com/video/default.aspx?aid=106866
Speech by Howard Zinn: "Standing up for justice in the age of Obama"
SocialistWorker.org
March 13, 2009
"In early February--a few weeks after Barack Obama was inaugurated as president--Howard spoke at the independent bookstore and gathering place Busboys and Poets. Here, with his permission, we publish his thoughts on the future of the struggle in the Obama era."
Voices of a People's History is a big success in San Francisco!
Performed Thursday, February 26, 2009 with a cast of readers and musicians including
BENJAMIN BRATT
JOSH BROLIN
DIANE LANE
STAIRWELL SISTERS
CLARENCE THOMAS of the ILWU
KERRY WASHINGTON
ROBIN WRIGHT PENN
RENEE SAUCEDO
BOOTS RILEY of THE COUP
For press coverage see:
Howard Zinn: Obama "Is Going to Need Demonstrations and Protest and Letters and Petitions" to Do the Right Things
By Liliana Segura, AlterNet
Posted March 12, 2009
... and union organizer Clarence Thomas, who powerfully embodied the spirit and wisdom of Martin Luther King Jr. in "Beyond Vietnam," also tapped into the urgency of people's hope in Barack Obama -- and what's at stake -- when he delivered Langston Hughes's poem, "The Ballad of Roosevelt." ("I am tired of waiting on Roosevelt, Roosevelt, Roosevelt. Damned tired of waiting on Roosevelt. And a lot of other folks was hungry and cold, done stopped believing what they had been told by Roosevelt, Roosevelt, Roosevelt. Because the pot is still empty and the cupboard is still bare and you cannot build a bungalow out of air.")
"Voices of a People's History" at Mission High
San Francisco Chronicle
By Reyhan Harmanci
Saturday, February 28, 2009
"I wanted the voices of the past to come to the present," Zinn said, looking jaunty in New Balance sneakers, brown slacks and a green sweater. "You go into the past and get lost. I want to get out of the past."
Howard Zinn tells us about Obama, Viggo and his love of eggs
SFGate: Culture Blog!
Q: You are 86 years old. But you look half your age. What is your secret?
A: You should see me right now. I'm doddering. I can barely hold this phone. (He laughs.) I don't work out. I do a few little pitiful exercises. I eat good things. I eat bananas and tomatoes. Eggs. A lot of eggs. I only eat things that taste good. I don't eat organic foods just because they're organic. I'd like to say "Do what I do," but I don't know. It's very mysterious what keeps some people fit and doesn't work for others. I've just been lucky, I guess.
Howard Zinn introduces his favorite film at the Coolidge Corner Theatre
BURN! presented by Howard Zinn
Mon, March 9 @ 7:00
Best-selling historian Howard Zinn introduces his favorite film as part of our 75th anniversary celebration.
Sir William Walker (Marlon Brando) is called to the island of Queimada to instigate a slave revolt in order to make sugar trade more lucrative for the British. Years later, when the very same rebels whom Sir William had amassed grow to be too powerful, he is called back to regain balance on the island.
Dir. Gillo Pontecorvo, w/ Marlon Brando 1h55m
Howard Zinn's "Favorite American Place"
From The Nation Guide to the Nation:
"Selma, Alabama, is my favorite place. I remember it for an inspiring moment in November of 1963 when the black citizens of Dallas County jammed into a church the night before they were to defy police and state troopers in an attempt to register to vote, and we all listened to the Selma Freedom Chorus raise the spirit of the crowd to the heavens."
The People Speak performed live at Sundance Film Festival
Thursday, January 22, 1:00 PM
Spoken word event
Free admission
The People Speak: Voices of a People’s History of the United States (the basis of the forthcoming documentary The People Speak) brings to light little known voices from U.S. history, including those of women, African Americans, Native Americans, immigrants, and laborers. By giving public expression to rebels, dissenters, and visionaries from our past — and present — we work to educate and inspire a new generation of people working for social justice.
This live performance with Howard Zinn features readings by Benjamin Bratt, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, Wyclef Jean, Q’Orianka Kilcher, and Marisa Tomei, and includes musical performances.
MoMA Documentary Fortnight 2009
The Museum of Modern Art
11 West 53 Street
New York, NY 10019
Roy and Niuta Titus Theaters 1 & 2
(Theater 1: full program; Theater 2: screening only)
Directed by Howard Zinn, Anthony Arnove, and Chris Moore.
With Kerry Washington, John Legend, Matt Damon, Rosario Dawson, Benjamin Bratt, Marisa Tomei, Danny Glover, Josh Brolin, Viggo Mortensen, Sandra Oh, Eddie Vedder, and others.
The People Speak is inspired by Howard Zinn's books A People's History of the United States and Voices of a People's History (co-authored with Anthony Arnove). Examples of resistance to social injustice throughout U.S. history inspire viewers to recognize the power of ordinary people to enact momentous change. The voices of lesser-known activists are heard alongside those of icons like Martin Luther King and Harriet Tubman to create a stirring record of civil disobedience as a defining characteristic of American political life.
Followed by readings, musical performances, and discussion with
Howard Zinn
Chris Moore
Anthony Arnove
and special guests, including:
Staceyann Chin
Michael Ealy
Rich Robinson of The Black Crowes
David Strathairn
Marisa Tomei
Kerry Washington
Harris Yulin
135 min. program running time (film and program)
90 min. film running time
Those of us on the Left who have criticized Obama, as I
have, for his failure to take bold positions on the war and
on the economy, must join the exultation of those Americans,
black and white, who shouted and wept Tuesday night as they
were informed that Barack Obama had won the presidential
election. It is truly a historic moment, that a black man
will lead our country. The enthusiasm of the young, black
and white, the hopes of their elders, cannot simply be
ignored.
There was a similar moment a century and a half ago, in the
year 1860, when Abraham Lincoln was elected president.
Lincoln had been criticized harshly by the abolitionists,
the anti-slavery movement, for his failure to take a clear,
bold stand against slavery, for acting as a shrewd
politician rather than a moral force. But when he was
elected, the abolitionist leader Wendell Phillips, who had
been an angry critic of Lincoln’s cautiousness, recognized
the possibility in his election.
Phillips wrote that for the first time in the nation’s
history “the slave has chosen a President of the United
States.” Lincoln, he said, was not an abolitionist, but
he in some way “consents to represent an antislavery
position.” Like a pawn on the chessboard, Lincoln had
the potential, if the American people acted vigorously, to
be moved across the board, converted into a queen, and, as
Phillips said, “sweep the board.”
Obama, like Lincoln, tends to look first at his political
fortunes instead of making his decisions on moral grounds.
But, as the first African American in the White House,
elected by an enthusiastic citizenry which expects a
decisive move towards peace and social justice, he presents
a possibility for important change.
Obama becomes president in a situation which cries out for
such change. The nation has been engaged in two futile and
immoral wars, in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the American
people have turned decisively against those wars. The
economy is shaken by tremendous blows, and is in danger of
collapsing, as families lose their homes and working people,
including those in the middle class, lose their jobs, So the
population is ready for change, indeed, desperate for
change, and “change” was the word most used by Obama in
his campaign.
What kind of change is needed? First, to announce the
withdrawal of our troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, and to
renounce the Bush doctrine of preventive war as well as the
Carter doctrine of military action to control Mideast oil.
He needs to radically change the direction of U.S. foreign
policy, declare that the U.S. is a peace loving country
which will not intervene militarily in other parts of the
world, and start dismantling the military bases we have in
over a hundred countries. Also he must begin meeting with
Medvedev, the Russian leader, to reach agreement on the
dismantling of the nuclear arsenals, in keeping with the
Nuclear Anti-Proliferation Treaty.
This turn-around from militarism will free hundreds of
billions of dollars. A tax program which will sharply
increase taxes on the richest 1% of the nation, and will tax
their wealth as well as their income, will yield more
hundreds of billions of dollars.
With all that saved money, the government will be able to
give free health care to everyone, put millions of people to
work (which the so-called free market has not been able to
do). In short, emulate the New Deal program, in which
millions were given jobs by the government. This is just an
outline of a program which could transform the United
States and make it a good neighbor to the world.
A celebration of Howard Zinn’s writing for the stage.
To honor Distinguished Visiting Scholar Howard Zinn, Suffolk University and the Boston Playwright’s Theatre join in a celebration of Howard Zinn’s writing for the stage. Zinn, Professor Emeritus at Boston University, is a long-time activist and author of numerous books, including A People’s History of the United States: 1492 to the Present (2006), A Power Governments Cannot Suppress (2007), and You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train: A Personal History of Our Times (2002).
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 Emma
November 20-22, 2008 Shouting Theatre in a Crowded Fire
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